Reaction propulsion means



July 18, 1933. c. MARGUGLIO REACTION PROPULSION MEANS Filed Oct. 24. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR v AL 5 i July 18, 1933. Q MARGUGLjQ 1,918,277

REACTION PROPULS ION MEANS Filed Oct. 24, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR July 18, 1933.

c. MARGUGLIO 1,918,277

REACTION PROPULS ION MEANS Filed Oct. 24, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet .3

INVENTOR Patented July 18, 1933 UNITED STATES CHRISTOPHER HARGUGLIO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

REACTION PROPULSION MEANS Application filed October 24, 1930. Serial No. 490,831.

This invention relates to propulsion means and more particularly to means for propelling aircraft.

In the laws of aerodynamics it is well known that a body travelling through the air is continuously subject to the action of two forces. The first of these is the force of gravity which is equal to the weight of the body and the direction of the force 18 downwards. The other force is the resistance of the air which is readily calculable in any given instance when the speed and direction of the wind currents, if any, are known. In the lighter-than-air machines the lift- 5 ing power necessary to overcome the force of gravity is supplied by means of ahghterthan-air gas, whereas in the heavier-thanair machines the force of gravity is overcome by the lift produced by the wings travelling horizontally, or substantially so, at a sulficient rate of speed. The air resistance in both cases is overcome by means of propellers which are caused to revolve by means of suitable motive power.

ticularly useful for propelling heavier-thanair machines and one of its principal objects is to provide single or unitary means for overcoming the resistance of the air as well as the force of gravity, and the latter without the.

use of wings, which are relatively fragile things.

In the present invention I am seeking to '35 utilize, in a very special way, the column of wind which is produced by an airplane propeller. For example, it is well lmown that a rapidly revolving airplane propeller on a shaft mounted on a block is capable of pro- 40 ducing a wind of hurricane intensity. Ex-

periments have shown that it is not at all unusual for a propeller to produce an air current having a speed of five and one half miles a minute, or over four hundred and seventy five feet a second. It will be readily appreciated what a tremendous driving force this column of air would have were it concentrat ed and utilized in a suitable manner.

To illustrate the princi le underlying the present invention we may riefiy refer to the The present invention will be found par-.

so-called rocket motor, upon which considerable experimentation has been performed in recent years, notably in Germany. Although the rocket motor in its present stage of development is far from a commercial possibility,-yet the principle has been very definitely established. suitable explosives are set off in a short cannon-like structure the reaction of the expanding gases against the closed or breach portion thereof, the instrumentality to which it is secured is driven forward at a terrific rate of speed. The recoil from a gun is based upon the same principle.

In the present invention I utilize this principle in a somewhat modified manner. In the rocket motor the successive charges of suitable explosives are placed in a cylindrical chamber which is closed at one end, and as the the charge is set off, the gases, which are seeking expansion in all directions simultaneously, react against the closed or breach portion, and, finding no outlet there, force the machine in that direction. The principle is one of pure reaction.

An analogous illustration of the principle of pure reaction is to be found in the squid, a member of the mollusk family. The squid is able to propel itself through the water, with out through an extrusion orifice under considerable pressure. Thus it will be seen that the propulsion in this instance is caused by the reaction of the stream of water passing out of the extrusion orifice, against the water on the outside. Also, the squid is able to,propel itselfin any desired direction by changing the angle of this extrusion orifice.

In the present invention, in'order to adopt this reaction principle, I provide a cylindrical structure which is and I mount a propeller therein which isca- When successive charges of considerable speed, in the following manner.

under pressure,

closed at one end,

pable of directing its hurricane-like column of air against this closed portion continuously, instead ofsuccessively, as in the case of rockets. Inasmuch as I am constantly forcing the column of air against this closed or breach portion I must likewise provide an outlet for same in'order to complete the reaction. This I achieve by mounting a somewhat smaller cylindrical structure, which is open at both ends,'within the first mentioned cylinder and by providing a space between said end or breach portion and the end of said smaller cylinder. Likewise there is a space provided between the inner and outer cylinders. Thus it will be appreciated that as the propeller, which is mounted quite close to this end or breach portion, drives this column of air against same at a terrific speed, the air within this compression chamber will thereafter seek its outlet, with the same de gree of force through. this'aforesaid opening. It will be further appreciated that in this area between the revolving propeller and the end or breach portion there will Be a terrific pressure created which will cause a corresponding reaction in the opposite direction, deducting minor losses from friction.

To further explain what actually happens within the compression chamber, the air molecules, which normally have a spherical shape, when subjected to the extremely efficient pressure betweenthe two solid plates of the compression chamber, namely the plate structure and the rapidly revolving propeller, are compelled to change their spherical form, into an elliptical form. Immediately after this change takes place, the solidly compressed air molecules are allowed to escape through the annular opening, between the spaced concentric cylindrical members, where they return to their former spherical shape.

In other words, the air molecules are caused to act as myriads oflittle springs, storing up energy during the compression, and changing this energy into a violent reaction, during their expansion, against the breach plate, or rather that portion thereof, annular in shape, outside of the circular portion with in the area of the inner cylindrical structure Another object of the invention is to utilize this pressure both for moving the craft in a horlzontal direction and for overcoming the force of gravity in a more elfective manner than by the present means of employing a type of wing which creates a vacuous area on the upper side thereof when sufiicient horizontal momentumis acquired. In other words, means will be provided for varying the. angle of the pressure when more altitude is desired, and a sufiicient angle of pressure may always be maintained in order to retain the desired altitude.

My device, in effect, accomplishes three principal things. By the directional application, from the horizontal plane to the vertical plane, or vice versa, of the resultant reaction obtained in the apparatus, the device first overcomes the air resistance met by vehicles moving in the horizontal plane; second, for lifting in the vertical plane, vehicles, or more specificall flying machines, thereby overcoming comp etely the Wei ht of said flying machine without the aid 0 con ventional wings or lighter-than-air ases. Thirdly, the device'overcomes the com ined gravity and air resistance, considered as components, of flying machines, by appl ing the proper direction and magnitude 0 the reaction of the apparatus to the proper direction and magnitude of the resultant of the two components, according to the law of the parallelogram of forces.

Still another object of the invention is to provide propelling means for aircraft wherein the proportion between the weight of said means and the weight of the craft will be less than in the present type of heavier-thanair machines.

The invention also contemplates the provision of means for propelling moveable objects travelling in one plane only, such as motor boats, land vehicles of every description, etc.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter specifically pointed out, or will become apparent, as the specification proceeds.

With the above indicated objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel constructions and combinations and arrangement of parts, clearly described in the accompanying drawings, which latter show em bodiments of ,the invention as at present preferred.

In said drawings;

Fig. 1 is a demonstrative view illustrating the principle of my invention.

F1 2 is similar to Fig. 1 but shows a mod cation in the construction thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section showing another modification.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partially in section, of one t pe of aircraft which is peculiarly adopte for the embodiment.

Fig 5 is a section on ,line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an outside elevation of the device and showing the operating mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a section in principle on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the apparatusshown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is an illustration of the method of using the device in connection with one type of aircraft.

Fig. 10 is an illustration of another method of employing the device.

I Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate other arrangements and methods of using the device in various types of craft.

Referring now more particularly to said drawings, the embodiment, which. is indicated by the numeral 15, includes a motor 16 of the air-cooled, radial type, and having a plurality of cylinders 16, a shaft 17, and

a propeller 18 secured to said shaft, all as shown in Fig. 1. The motor is rigidly mounted in any suitable manner within a cylindrical structure 19, which is open at both ends. This cylindrical structure has an inside diameter slightly in excess of the length of the propeller, and is rigidly secured to a reaction" cowling or plate structure 20, by means of a plurality of angle brackets 21, which are disposed at intervals around said cylindrical structure. Integral with this plate structure is a cylindrical flange portion 22 which has an inside diameter somewhat in excess of the outside diameter of the cylindrical structure 19, as shown in Fig. 1.

When the propeller revolves the air is drawn into the cylindrical structure 19 as indicated by the arrows 23. The propeller revolves quite close to the inner end portion 24 of the cylindrical structure. It will thus be appreciated that as the air is drawn into the cylindrical structure and forced against the plate structure 20, an area of tremendous pressure is created between the revolving propeller and the plate. This pressure forces the craft, to which the device is secured, onwards at a terrific speed. After the air has been forced against the plate it will escape with the same degree of pressure through the opening between the end portion 24 of the cylindrical 'structure and the plate structure 20, as indicated by the arrows 25, and thence through the opening between the cylindrical structure 19 and the cylindrical flange portion 22, as indicated by the arrows 27. Thus it will be appreciated that the escaping air, which is under the same pressure as the air striking the plate, will, when it strikes the outside air, have its reaction on the plate. It will be apparent that the air striking the plate and the air, under pressure, encountering the outer air are not two separate forces but are both a part of the same force. It will also be quite apparent that with an apparatus arranged in this manner every square inch of the surface of the enclosed column of wind is utilized. This desirable condition does not,of course, exist when the column of air is open as is presently the case in airplanes.

The most eflicient distance of the plate from the propeller and the sizes of the respective openings between the end portion 24 of the-cylindrical structure and the plate structure 20, and between the cylindrical structure 19 and theflange portion 22, will vary according to the size of the device, etc. In order to make this distance between the propeller and the plate structure and the size of the openings variable, two modifica tions in construction are shown in Figs. 2

and 3. In the first variation the cylindrical structure 19' is somewhat tapered as shown. The inner portion thereof, 24 is tapered to a greater degree. Likewise the flange portion 22' is tapered and is provided with a greater taper 27 at the innerportion thereof. It will thus be appreciated that if the cylindrical structure 19' is mounted rigidly and the plate structure with its flange portion 22 is, by suitable means moved inwardly, or telescoped, upon the former, the openings are thus made smaller and the propeller is drawn nearer to the plate structure 20. Likewise when the plate structure is moved outwardly to the position indicated in the broken lines the openings are made larger.

In the second modification shown in Fig. 3, the cylindrical structure 19 is the same as that shown in Fig. 1. Likewise the plate structure 20 with its flange portion 22 is the same. There is provided, however, an auxiliary plate structure 28 having a narrow flange portion 28 integral therewith. This auxiliary plate structure is slidably mounted within the flange portion 22 by means of a screw 29 which passes through a rectangular opening 30 in the circular flange 28'. Suitable means (not shown) are provided for holding this auxiliary plate structure in the desired position. It will be observed that as this structure 28 is moved towards the propeller the end portion 24 of the cylindrical structure, the opening therein is made smaller, and vice versa.

' Thesides of the cylindrical structure 19 may be substantially parallel, as shown, or they may be tapered either way, without departing from the invention. Likewise the outer end portion thereof only may be tapered as shown in Fig. 4. Likewise the structure 19 may be square, oval, or in any other suitable shape, the other coacting parts being shaped to fit same.

As a further modification, the motor 16 may be placed on the opposite side of the plate 20, said plate having a central opening for the shaft 17 on which the propeller is mounted. In the same manner the propeller may be caused to rotateby a motor rigidly secured outside the device and connected with the propeller by means of gears, etc.

It will be readily appreciated that the propulsion means of the type described may be readily adapted to any'type of heavier-thanair machines as well as craft of the lighter than-air type. I believe, however, that the best results will be obtained by mounting the device in a Wingless craft such as is illustrated in Fig. 4. 'This craft ,is shaped after an ellipsoid and it includes a body structure 32 having a relatively rounded nose portion 32' and a pointed end portion 32". The

end portion is provided with the usual horigradually swung to an angle on its pivot-al the craft first rises from the earth the device is held in the vertical position, which, of course will produce no horizontal movement of the craft. As the structure 15 is means to the position indicated in the broken lines in said Fig. 4:, the craft begins to have a forward movement. It will be also appreciated that suitable means may also be prcivided whereby the device may be tilted in the opposite direction, i. e., towards the front of the craft. in order to provide braking means for quickly reducing the speed of the craft. Inasmuch as the craft is Wingless it will be necessary to be kept aloft by means of the reaction cowling since no degree. of

altitude will be maintained merely by virtue of the forward movement of the craft as is the case in the winged machines. In this type of Wingless craft an elongated opening 35 is provided in the bottom, portionth'ereof, as shown in Fig. 5, in order'to provide free access for the incoming and outgoing air. This opening is provided with a flange 36 around the edge thereof, and a hood structure 37 to encase the propulsion means. If desired, a sliding circular opening may be provided in order to reduce" the size of the opening 35. In this manner as the structure 15 is swung on its pivot, the -opening will move backwards, etc.

The construction of this kind ofcraft is very simple and .its shape insures great strength as compared to the average frail airplane. The capacity for fuel, instruments and useful load is much more than a plane of comparative size, Since the machine is Wingless it requires less storage space than the usual plane.

Whereas any suitable means may be provided for mounting and regulating the various parts of the device, including the means for changing the angle and the size of the aforesaid opening, the structure shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, are preferred. The cylindrical structure 19 is provided with shaft members 40 which are pivotally carried by a frame 41,. A segment 42 is secured to one of these shaft members and is engaged by a pinion 43 which, in turn is engaged by an idler This idler is caused to rotate by means of a rack bar 45, the opposite end Thus it will be that as the piston is caused to move inwardly or outwardly the cylinder structure 19 is caused to revolve substantially forty five degrees. In order to provide means for varying the size of the aforesaid openings by means of telescoping the plate structure with its cylindrical flange portion 22 upon the cylindrical structure 19, said cylindrical flange portion is provided with elongated openings 48 on either side thereof, through which the shaft members 40 pass. Pins 49 secured oneach side of the cylindrical structure are engaged by cam structures 50 having openings 51 through which said pins pass.

Connecting rods 52 are pivotally secured at one end thereof to a lever portion 53 integral with said cam structure 50, and are secured at the opposite end thereof to opposite ends of a bell crank lever 54 which is manually operated in any suitable manner by a connecting rod 55. Thusit will be seen that as the ;bell crank lever is moved the cam structure 50 moves the plate structure 20 with its cylindrical flange portion'22 to any desired posi tion.

Fig. 9 shows the preferable method of em- I ploying the embodiment in a craft of medium size. An elliptically shaped craft 57 is provided with the usual fins 58 and rudders 59 and is propelled by means of two of the reaction cowlings 15 which are capable of being .set at'varying angles as heretofore described.

In Fig. 11 two of the structures are provided. for keeping the craft at the desired bodiment depends upon having a suitable supply of air in this cylindrical structure, it will be necessary, at higher speeds, to provide a number of flues 60 which are indicated in Fig. 10. These flues lead into the inner cylinder and will provide a suitable quantity of air therein. These flues' had best be constructed in a streamline shape in order to afford little resistance to the passage of the air out of the structure.

Fig. 11 shows the method of using my invention in connection with a large ship 61 of the dirigible type, the arrangement of the motors being similar to that shown in Fig. 9. A modification is shown in Fig. 12 wherein all of the propellers are-driven from one a ture 19. Inasmuch as the success of the emshaft 62 which is rotated by means of a single motor 63. I

The hereinbefore described construction admits of considerable modification without departing from the invention; therefore, it is the wish not to be limited to the precise arrangements shown and described, which are as aforesaid, by way of illustration merely. In other words the scope of protection contemplated is to be taken solely from the appended claims, interpreted as broadly as is consistent with the prior art.

I claim:

1. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a plate structure, a propeller mounted adjacent thereto and spaced therefrom, means for revolving said propeller, thereby forcing a column of'air against said plate structure, and means for confining the column of air so driven against said plate structure and meansfor'separating the air so driven against said plate structure from the air reacting from said plate structure. 2. The device described in claim 16 and .including means for changing the angle of said plate structure and of said propeller.

3. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a cylindrical structure which is open at one end and closed at the other, means within said cylindrical structure for forcing a column of air against the closed end of said cylindrical structure and means for allowing the air so driven to escape from said structure, in the opposite direction, after said air has struck said closed end, said means including an inner cylindrical structure open at both ends.

4. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a pair of concentric cylinders mounted in spaced relation to each other, the inner one of said cylinders being open at both ends and the outer one of said cylinders being open at one end and closed at the other, a propeller mounted within said concentric cylinders immediately adjacent to said closed end of the outer cylinder and means for revolving said propeller, thereb forcing a column of air against said close end and compressing the air in the chamber formed by said closed end and the revolving propeller, said air being allowed to escape in the opposite direction between said cylinders.

5. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a pair of concentric cylinders, the outer one of said cylinders being open at one end and closed at the other, the inner-one of said cylinders beingppen at both ends and spaced from said outer cylinder and spaced from the closed end thereof, a propeller mounted therein immediately adjacent to said closed end of the outer cylinder and a motor disposed therein adapted to rotate said propeller, said device being adapted to be mounted in an aircraft. a I 6. The device described in claim 5 and ineluding a plurality of flues leading from the outside of said aircraft to the inside of said inner cylinder and adapted to supply air therein.

7. In a device for propelling aircraft, the combination of a cylindrical structure which is open at one end and closed at the other, and another cylindrical structure whichis' open at bothends and which is mounted within said first cylindrical structure and spaced therefrom, a-propeller mounted within said second cylindrical structure immediately adjacent the closed end of said first cylindrical structure, means for revolving said propeller, thereby forcing a column of air against the closed end of said first cylindrical structure, said air being allowed to escape in the opposite direction in the opening between said cylindrical structures.

8. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a cylindrical structure which is closed at one end and open at the other, a second cylindrical structure which is open at both ends and rigidly mounted within said first cylindrical structure and spaced therefrom, a propeller mounted within said cylindrical structure, adjacent to said closed end and spaced therefrom, a motor disposed therein for revolving said propeller, and a plate structure slidably mounted within said first cylindrical structure between the closed portion thereof and the adjacent open end portion of the second or inner cylindrical structure and means for securing said plate structure in any desired position, thereby changing the. size of the opening between said closed end of said cylindrical structure and the adjacent open end of said second cylindrical structure.

9. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a cylindrical structure which is open at one end and closed at the other, a second cylindrical structure which is open at both ends and which is telescopically mounted within said first cylindrical structure and spaced therefrom, each of said cylindrical structures having an inwardly tapered portion adjacent to the closed end of said? first cylindrical structure, means disposed within said sec nd cylindrical structure for forcing a column of air against the closed end of said first cylindrical structure and means for telescoping said first cylindrical structure upon said second cylindrical structure, thereby changing. the size of the opening therebetween.

\ 10. A device for propelling aircraft 1ncluding an outer tapered cylindrical structure which is open at one end and closed at the other, an inner tapered cylindrical structure which is open at both ends and whlch is telescopicallymounted within said outer cylindrical structure and spaced therefrom, I

means for forcing a column of airlagainst said closed end of the outer c'yhndrlcal struc mm, said device being ivotally mounted to a frame secured within an aircraft, said device being adapted to be rotated by means of a series of gears. 1 o

11. A device for propelling aircraft including a pair of concentric cylinders havin nonparallel sides, the outer one of said cyllnders being open at its larger end and closed at its smaller end, the inner one of said cylinders being spaced from said outer cylinder and being open at both ends, a propeller mounted therein adjacent to said closed end and spaced therefrom, means disposed therein for revolving said propeller, and means for telesco ing said outer cylinder upon said inner cy inder, thereby varying the space between said cylinders.

12. A device for. propellin aircraft including a pair of concentric cy inders having non-parallel sides, the adjacent sides of said cylinders being parallel to each other, the outer one of said cylinders being open at its larger end and closed at its smaller end, the inner one of said cylinders being spaced from said outer cylinder and being open at both ends, a propeller mounted therein adjacent to said closed end and spaced therefrom, a motor disposed therein for rotating said propeller, means for telescoping said outer cylinder upon said inner cylinder, thereby varying the space between said cylinders.

13. A device for pro lling aircraft including a pair of concentric cylinders having tapered sides, the outer one of said cylinders being open at its smaller end and closed at its larger end the Inner one of said cylinders being spaced from said outer cylinder and being open at both ends, a propeller mounted therein adjacent to said closed end and spaced therefrom, means for telescopin said outer cylinder upon said inner cylin er, thereby varying the space between said cylinders and the space between said closed end of said outer cylinder and the adjacent open end of the inner cylinder. 4

14. A device for propellin aircraft 1 including a pair of concentric cyfinders having tapered sides, the outer one of said cylinders bein open at its larger end and closed at its sma er end,the inner one of said cylinders being spaced from said outer cylinder and being open at both ends, a propeller mounted therein adjacent to said closed end and spaced therefrom, saidinner cylinder being rigidl mounted within an aircraft, said outer cy inder being telescopically mounted on said inner cylinder, and a cam structure adapted to move said outer cylinder to its desired position.

15. A device of the kind described, including a tapered outer cylinder which is open at its larger end and closed at its smaller end, a tapered inner cylinder telescopically mounted within said outer cylinder .and spaced therefrom, said inner cylinder being open at both ends, a propeller mounted within said cylinders adjacent to the closed end of the outer cylinder and spaced therefrom, a motomoutside of said cylinders and adapted to rotate said propeller, and means for pivotally mounting said device within an aircraft and pneumatically operated means for changing the angle of said device.

16. A device for propelling movable objects including a late structure mounted on said movable ob ect at right angles to the direction of motion, a propeller mounted immediately adjacent thereto and s aced therefrom, means for revolving sai propeller thereby driving a column of air against said plate structure and compressing said air in the chamber formed by said plate structure andsaid revolving propeller, and means for separating the air so driven to said plate structure from the air reacting from said plate structure.

17. An aircraft propelling device including a pair of concentric cylindrical members, the outer one of said cylindrical members being open at one end and closed at the other, the inner one of said cylindrical members being open at both ends and spaced from the outer cylindrical member and from the closed end thereof, a propeller mounted within said inner cylindrical member adjacent to the closed end of said outer c lindrical inember and means for revolving said propel- 18. In a reaction propelling device the combination of a plate member having a cylindrical flange portion, a cylinder mounted within said flange portion and spaced therefrom, and a propeller mounted within said cylinder adjacent said late member and means for revolving sai propeller, thereby forcing a column of air against said plate member, the air being compressed in the chamber between said plate member and said volving said propeller, and mean for rovid- I ing an unobstructed air passage to said plate member.

20. A device of the class described including a unitary reaction means for propelling an aircraft horizontally and vertically, sai

means including apair of spaced concentric cylinders 'fpivotally mounted within said aircraft'on ajhorizontal axis, at right anglesto the direction of motion, the inner one' of said cylinders being open at both ends and theouter one of said cylinders being open at one end and closed at thebther, a propeller mounted Within said cylinders adjacent to the closed end of said outer cylinder and means for revolving said propeller.

21. In combination with an elliptically shaped, heavier-than-air craft, a. propulsion device of the class described in claim 17.

22. In combination, an elliptically shaped, heavier-than-air craft having a vertical opening extending from the lower portion of the body thereof, a propulsion device of the kind set forth in claim 1 and means for pivotally mounting same on a horizontal axis.

23. A device of the class described including, in combination, an aircraft and propul- CHRISTOPHER MARGUGLIO. 

